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Despite the stigma surrounding them, bulldogs can make amazing family pets. If you’re considering adding one to your family, you might be wondering: How long can a pit bull live?
Sadly, no dog breed lives as long as we would like, but it’s good to know how many years you can live with a furry family member. It’s great to know what you can do to prolong their life, so we’ve included that information too.
Anyway, what is a pit bull?
We’ll be discussing the American Pit Bull Terrier exclusively in this article, but all breeds known as Pit Bull have similar longevity and health issues.
Bulldog Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Bulldog is 12 to 14 years. Your dog may live to be 20 years old or die prematurely, but without any serious health issues or horrific accidents, you can expect to spend at least twelve years with your pit bull.
Factors Affecting Bulldog Lifespan
Aside from tragic accidents, there are a variety of factors that can affect a pit bull’s lifespan. Some factors that can shorten the life expectancy of pit bulls include:
- obesity Many of the same health problems that cause dogs are the same as people
- bad eating habits Can Affect Your Bulldog’s Health
- hip dysplasia Affects your dog’s mobility and quality of life
- heart disease Can greatly shorten the lifespan of pit bulls
- lack of training Aggressive bulldogs that may need to be put down after attacking a person or another dog
- Not enough exercise May cause disruptive behavior that may lead owners to take their pitbulls to a shelter where they may be euthanized
How can you help your bulldog live longer?
While you can’t change conditions like congenital heart disease, there are things you can do to help your Bulldog have the best chance of a long, healthy life. Here are some tips to help your bulldog live longer.
#1 – Keep Your Bulldog at a Healthy Weight
more than half of all dogs are overweight or obese. Like humans, obesity in bulldogs can lead to the following:
- hypertension
- certain types of cancer
- kidney disease
- arthritis
- Decreased quality of life
- shorter lifespan
How do you know if your bulldog is overweight? When your dog is standing, they should have a noticeable waistline when viewed from the side and above. You should also be able to feel (but not see) their ribs.
Just like humans, the key to keeping your bulldog at a healthy weight is to feed them a healthy diet and give them plenty of exercise. If you want to treat your dog, make sure you give them less kibble to make up for the calories, and don’t overeat the treats.
You can also replace healthy treats that won’t affect your bulldog’s waistline with healthy, dog-safe fruits and vegetables like carrots.
If your Bulldog is overweight, discuss with your veterinarian how to help them lose weight safely. Sometimes it’s not enough to feed your dog less – you may need a low-calorie diet.
#2 – Choose Bulldog Breeders Carefully
Bulldogs are genetically predisposed to a variety of health conditions, including hip dysplasia, heart disease, thyroid problems, and allergies. Reputable breeders work hard to reduce the genetic conditions passed through their bloodlines and conduct certain tests to ensure the health of their dogs before breeding.
On the other hand, backyard breeders, puppy mills and pet stores are more interested in making money than producing healthy puppies. Dogs from such disreputable breeders are more likely to have genetic problems, and they’re also more likely to have deadly infections like parvovirus.
Here are some ways to make sure the breeder you’re looking for is reputable:
1. They should have a health check on the parent’s dog
2. You should be allowed to watch the puppy on site
3. They should answer all your questions and ask some of their own
4. You should be allowed to at least see the bitch
5. If you can’t keep it for some reason, they should offer to bring back the puppy
6. They may offer health guarantees
#3 – Get regular veterinary care
Many health conditions are easier to treat the sooner they are caught. Taking your pitbull to the veterinarian at least once a year when young and twice a year as an adult can help spot potential health problems before they become severe enough to shorten your pitbull’s lifespan.
#4 – Give them lots of exercise and training
Bulldogs are very active and need at least an hour of exercise every day. Without enough exercise, bulldogs are likely to become bored and destructive. A bored bulldog may start chewing and swallowing things it shouldn’t, which can lead to a bowel obstruction that can be fatal without expensive emergency surgery.
While bulldogs are not necessarily more likely to attack people or other dogs than any other breed, they do cause a lot of damage when they bite.
The best way to prevent your bulldog from aggressive behavior is to give them enough Socialization and training, starting as young as possible. You need to learn to be firm and confident without dominating your bulldog.
Positive reinforcement is a more appropriate way to train a pit bull than dominance or punishment.
#5 – Feed quality food
In general, people who eat a lot of junk food tend to live shorter lives than those who eat healthy. So do dogs. Do you know what’s in your pitbull’s food?
Most cheap dog food is made with filler ingredients that have no nutritional value, such as corn or meat by-products (parts of animals that people won’t eat, like beaks or hooves). Look for foods with real meat as the first ingredient, no by-products and no corn.
For advice on Pit Bulls dog food, check out our article on 5 Best Dog Foods for Bulldogs.
#6 – Brush your teeth
Most people never think about brushing a dog’s teeth, but a dog’s dental health affect their other health. You see, if you don’t brush your pitbull’s teeth, bacteria can get out of control under the gum line, then get into the bloodstream and affect your dog’s internal organs, including their heart.
If you can, you should brush your pitbull’s teeth daily with a soft toothbrush, then toothpaste Made especially for dogs.If your dog won’t let you do this, see The 5 Best Bones for a Bulldog.
Chewing on your bones helps remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and helps irritate your gums—the best way to go after brushing.
Final Words: Summarizing Pitbull Life Expectancy
While there’s no guarantee your bulldog will live a long, happy life, following these tips should help improve your dog’s chances of a healthy, high-quality year as a valuable member of your family.
With a little luck and a lot of love, your Pittie may outlast the odds and outlive the average Bulldog’s 12 to 14 years.
You might also like…
Red-Nosed Pitbull: Breed Facts, History, and Differences
The Blue-Nosed Bulldog: A Beautiful Dog With Different Fame
5 Best Indestructible Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers
Pitbull Husky Mix: Getting to Know Pitsky
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